MUMBAI: As the date for Budget 2009 nears, leading business channels are gearing up with a comprehensive line up of special shows to analyse the impact of this year’s budget and the expectations from it.
For CNBC Universe, which includes CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz and Moneycontrol.com, the focus will be on a singular theme – “Will this be the Big B – the biggest budget ever?” The theme epitomises the expectant mood of economic stakeholders and the markets as they look forward to a reform ushering and growth inducing budget from the Finance Minister.
Says CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz VP marketing Neel Chowdhury said, “To deliver a truly value adding utilitarian offering to millions of our consumers, we’ll endeavour to exploit substantial synergies within our business ecosystem ranging from Moneycontrol.com to offerings from Mobile18 as well as DVD’s from our content retail brand, Bestsellers.”
CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz have laid out a series of editorial shows, ground events, on-air segments and specials throughout their budget coverage with a strong emphasis on interactivity and audience involvement.
The special shows on the channels include India Economy Debates With Karan Thapar, 1st Century – 100 days and beyond, Imagining The Indian Economy, Past FM’s, Present Budget Young Turks In Government, Budget Behind The Scenes and Budget Gets Real.
Apart from on-ground events, the channel will also air special segments like Industry Wishlist, If I Were FM, What The World Thinks, Budget Trivia, Tax Minute, Budget Barometer Poll, Economic Survey Special.
On CNBC Awaaz, the special lineup include Budget Caravan, Budget Expectations, Tax Express, Har Ghar Ki Ummeed and Budget Aur Youth.
NDTV Profit, meanwhile, has partnered with The Outlook Group wherein the two parties have agreed to leverage their combined editorial reach to produce a complete budget package across print, internet and television. Outlook Group will use the combined editorial strengths of their publications – Outlook Business, Outlook Money and Outlook Profit – to power this relationship with NDTV Profit.
As far as the programming lineup for the budget is concerned, NDTV Profit will feature shows such as Deloitte presents Budget Watch, India’s Budget, Tax Roundtable, We the SME’s, Budget for Bankers, The Lobby, Sector Watch, Budget for Investors, Ghar Ghar Ka Budget and Your Taxes.
Two minute vignettes, CEO Wish List, Desh Ki Dhadkan and Tax in 2 minutes, highlighting the expectations of different stakeholders, will run at various time slots throughout the day on the channel.
Said NDTV Profit managing editor Shivnath Thukral, “It is great that we have come together. This is a relationship that will add tremendous value to both NDTV Profit’s viewers as well as readers of Outlook group magazines.”
The association will also include articles, columns and expert views in the forthcoming issues of the three Outlook group magazines.
UTVi will have special shows with top industry honchos, discussing the budget in detail. Also, the channel will have their anchors stationed in the South Mumbai localities to take consumer views.
Interestingly, CNN IBN and IBN7 are also lining up shows around the budget. The shows on CNN IBN include Budget of Hope, Axe The Tax, Face The Budget Devil’s Advocate, Pre-Budget Show, Budget on Campus.
IBN7 will have Budget’ 09 Dreamz Unlimited, Economic Survey Special, Hot Seat Budget Special, Yuva – Budget Special and Budget Special with the team of popular TV soaps.
IBN18 editor-in-chief Rajdeep Sardesai said, “CNN-IBN’s special budget programming has been designed in a way to benefit all stratas of the society ranging from the common man to industry giants. CNN-IBN, with its finest experts, will simplify and decode the Union Budget’s effect and impact for our viewers.”
Meanwhile, with a title ‘Budget 2009- Promises to keep,’ NewsX will present its analysis, insights and study of the budget from the perspective of the audience – analyzing and debating every aspect from every angle.
The budget programming on the channel began on 23 June and will be spread over two weeks bringing forward a programming line up covering various aspects of the Union Budget including the Railway Budget on Friday, 3 July. The channel will cover the pre budget stories and the implications thereof throughout the day on Monday, 6 July.
Avers NewsX marketing director Gautam Mukerjea, “With ‘Budget 2009- Promises to keep,’ NewsX will take a macro look at what the Budget 2009 means to India and the Indians. The NewsX budget programming will serve the viewers the most comprehensive coverage of all issues that affect citizens directly and not just the big corporates. Our focus will be on simplifying the Budget and its implications for the common man.”
NewsX will air short programmes based on different topics such as tax, education, defense, health care, power, agriculture, industry and infrastructure, subsidies and waste. On the day of the budget, NewsX will capture the essence through in studio discussion, analysis, and reactions from across the nation and sectors.
The programming will be accentuated by special guests including leading economists, former ministers and secretaries, representatives from the government and the opposition, members of the Planning Commission, experts on taxation, markets, social sector, agriculture and commodities.
Zee Business, on the other hand, under the aegis of India Ahead: Budget ‘09, has charted a lineup of special programming as a run-up to the Union Budget 2009.
Says Zee Business business head Raktim Das, “Budget 2009 could very well be the landmark event in Indian business and economy. It can help India take its rightful place amongst the global economic superpowers. Zee Business brings you the best coverage of Budget 2009 with a series of powerful programmes leading up to the budget day.”
The pre budget lineup includes Budget Yatra, wherein the channel staff will travel across the country to give a voice to the local population as well as SME’s from various clusters to discuss their expectations from the forthcoming budget. The other shows include Union Budget Forum, India Ahead Leadership Series, Meri Job Mera Budget (in association with Monster.com) and weekend show Bahu, Beti aur Budget.
On the Budget day, the channel will live telecast Budget speech, followed by a detailed analysis and possible implications of the Budget on the economy. Also, the channel will invite over 100 stock market analysts for a round table discussion on the immediate impact of the budget across sectors.
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